(NaturalNews) The race is on amongst pharmaceutical companies to be the first to introduce the world's first vaccine for norovirus, a highly-contagious infectious disease that can cause stomach influenza or viral gastroenteritis. And a former Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation executive, who now works for a prominent Japanese drug company, is pushing for his new company to be the norovirus vaccine leader.

Rajeev Vankayya is the current head of Japanese pharmaceutical giant Takeda Pharmaceutical Co., which boasts being the furthest along in formulating and releasing a universal vaccine for norovirus. As reported by Bloomberg.com, Takeda is set to finish early stage clinical trials on its version of the norovirus vaccine by the end of 2013, and not long after that release it on the commercial market.

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control (CDC) claims that roughly 21 million people in the U.S. are infected with norovirus annually, which typically manifests as gut inflammation, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and in some cases even death. But according to Vankayya, Takeda's new vaccine is capable of offering protection against 95 percent of all known norovirus strains.

"Given the highly infectious nature of norovirus and its ability to cause extensive outbreaks in hospitals, elder-care facilities and cruise ships, there is a need for prophylactic and preventative approaches to guard against infections," says Peter White, a microbiology professor at the University of New South Wales in Sydney, Australia, as quoted by Bloomberg.com.

New norovirus vaccine loaded with GMOs and other harmful antigens

But will the new vaccine be safe? It will probably only be as "safe" as the "safest" vaccines currently on the market, all of which carry with them the potential to cause permanent neurological harm, brain damage, and other nasty side effects. Though the official package insert for Takeda's norovirus vaccine has not yet been officially released, it is safe to say that it will likely contain many of the typical antigens, preservatives, and other toxic additives commonly found in vaccines.

One particular norovirus vaccine currently under development reportedly contains a genetically-modified component of tobacco, MPL Toll-4, which is owned by drug giant GlaxoSmithKline and used as an antigen. The vaccine itself is inhalable, which means it is not injected in typical fashion. Instead, a dry powder containing the transgenic additive is breathed in by patients in a manner resembling how an inhaler drug is used.

Interestingly, the company manufacturing the vaccine, LigoCyte Pharmaceuticals, Inc., was recently acquired by Takeda back in late 2012. And based on a report written by Heidi Stevenson from GaiaHealth.com back in 2010, this inhalable norovirus vaccine appears to be the very same one that Takeda is hoping will be the first to hit the market.

"GSK's adjuvant is a unique concern," writes Stevenson about MPL Toll-4. "It uses aminoalkyl glucosaminide phosphate (AGP), which is a synthetic form of a naturally-occurring compound. What's worrisome is that it appears to function by triggering the immune system directly. Mice treated with AGP experience increased cytokine and inflammatory responses. At least one study has shown that AGP acts by directly modulating the immune system."

Avoid norovirus naturally with nutrition, rest and hydration

But almost nobody actually dies from norovirus, and one's risk of contracting the disease and suffering from it in any substantial way is only as high as his immune system is weak. If you maintain strong immunity through proper nutrition, rest, and hydration, in other words, your risk of contracting norovirus is incredibly low, which means you do not need to risk developing other more harmful side effects from a questionable vaccine.

* Required. Once you click submit, we will send you an email asking you to confirm your free registration.
Your privacy is assured and your information is kept confidential. You may unsubscribe at anytime.